Sportsman Pestonjee was National Champ at 14

Richard Dwight

Living out the Churchillian dictum ‘Never giveup’ is the affable, P.N. Pestonjee, affectionately referred to as Pesi - who though experiencing a minor reverse, a setback some time ago has done well with grim determination and perseverance, to so adjust and adapt himself to function as Director and overseer of the highly reputed, ‘Abans’.

Undoubtedly a triumph over adversity, which should serve to inspire, motivate and encourage others facing similar situations. This quality of firm resolve and of noble virtues, were gained from his upbring at home and his student days at Royal College.

In the mid forties he did have the benefit of a fine secondary education at Royal under the principalship of both Bradby and Corea - where apart from being a mild mannered exemplary student, he also excelled at cricket and tennis at the junior.

Pesi’s forte however was Table Tennis and his adroit hand at this sport, was seen as champion at all levels for his school, which through his sober disciplined, gentlemanly ways made him ever so popular to have many friends.

His pride and boast is that on partnering Naro Udeshi, they were TT National doubles champions on two separate occasions, when Pesi was 14 and 16 years. He also had the added distinction of being the mixed doubles champion along with Belle Weerakoon. All these commendable achievements came his way during the late forties and early fifties.

Pesi had the honour of representing All Ceylon at TT under Naro Udeshi and played against, Australia, UK and India, the others in the team were the Schoorman brothers - Dick and Sam, Norshi Lakdawalla, Chrys Gunaratne and Charlie Daniel - the ladies who were prominent being Belle Weerakoon, Mrs. Somasunderam and Miss Sinham.

Pesi despite being an active player, also worked assiduously in the promotion of TT at the YMCA and the different clubs. At the national level be at various times, held responsible positions and was as well its president at one time.

It was on such an occasion, that he accompanied the TT team for the world championship in Japan where he established a firm friendship with Tchiro Augimura, the president of the Japan TT Association and the world TT Federation. It’s through this Mutual friendship that Augimura arranged to give 10 TT tables, balls and nets as required for the SAF games that was held here.

These are the tables that are still being made use of here in the island. If you go back further, Pesi after his commercial studies worked at N.R. Pestongee and Sons whilst assisting his wife, who ran a small shop referred to as ‘Abans’, dealing with household electrical goods, at 369 Galle road Colombo 4.

Needless to say that from small beginnings, the little shop was successful engouh to move over to a downstair building.

Soon after which, Abans made rapid progress to add yet other floors to its eye catching building and, the success it has achieved is history now on speaking to P.N. Pestonjee (PESI) over the telephone for an interview on Wednesday, he laughed aloud heartily to question, whether it was an ‘April Fools’ joke and it was only then, that I realised it was April 1 and was pleased to find him in a cheerful mood.

The fair complexioned Pesi, seated at his desk at Abans has not lost his sense of sangunity, there are times he is contemplative but equally cheerful with a characteristic smile to say that just now it’s a critical period for the country but with the war being over the future looks bright, notwithstanding the current meltdown.